Chemical Peels in Medellín

It's the application of acids at medical-grade concentrations to renew the top layers of your skin. You may see it called a chemical peel, facial peel, acid peel or chemexfoliation; in Colombia it usually goes by "peeling químico."

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), peels are used for dark spots, uneven skin tone, some types of acne, rough or dull skin, and sun damage. At noon Clinic, we mainly recommend them for dark spots, acne or acne marks, and pores and texture.

Peels differ by how deep the acid goes. Light (superficial) peels, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) explains, use acids such as glycolic, lactic or salicylic acid, work only on the outer layer of skin and can be repeated at regular intervals. Medium and deep peels reach further down, and recovery takes longer. A deep peel, according to the AAD, is done in a surgical setting and can only be done once in a lifetime.

Your doctor decides which acid and what depth suit you after examining your skin.

Sometimes a peel is one piece of a bigger plan, and sometimes something else is a better fit for what you want:

• Dark spots and melasma: the cause is diagnosed first, and then lightening agents, peels, in-office technologies and at-home care are combined.
• Microneedling: for acne scars, pores and firmness.
• Laser: dark spots, texture and small vascular lesions, depending on the type of laser.
• Medical facial: as maintenance or to prep your skin.

At your consultation, we'll tell you what makes sense for you.

According to the ASPS, a peel may not be right for you if you:

• Have a history of abnormal scarring.
• Have scars that tend to darken.
• Have used certain acne treatments in the past year.
• Have a skin condition or take medications that make your skin more sensitive than usual.

If you're pregnant, tell your doctor: in an ASPS article, pregnancy is listed among the things reviewed beforehand because it can raise the risk of complications. If you've ever had keloids, mention that too.

Every procedure has risks, and a peel does too. The ASPS and the AAD mention, among others:

• Redness, burning, flaking and irritation; in some people, the redness lasts for months.
• Changes in skin color, lighter or darker, which can be temporary or permanent depending on your skin type. Hormonal medications or a family history of brown patches on the face can make this more likely.
• A cold sore flare-up, if you've had cold sores before.
• Infection or scarring, both very rare.

The AAD points out that serious problems usually come from not following aftercare instructions. Before you start, your doctor walks you through each risk.

Tell your doctor, even if it seems minor, whether you take or have taken isotretinoin (Accutane), which medications you use (aspirin and birth control included), which supplements you take, whether you get cold sores and which aesthetic treatments you've had. All of this is reviewed at your consultation; here you can see how the process works at noon Clinic.

Your skin will peel for 3 to 7 days. To help it heal well, the AAD recommends:

• Keeping it moisturized the way your doctor tells you: if it dries out and cracks, it can scar.
• Not scratching or picking at peeling skin.
• Wearing makeup only when your doctor says it's OK.
• Wearing sunscreen every day and staying away from tanning beds. Under the Medellín sun, no exceptions.

If your skin burns, itches or swells, let your doctor know.